News

Three new members join Board of Governors

May 20th, 2016

The Community Foundation welcomes three new members to its Board of Governors. The Community Foundation’s Board of Governors provides invaluable guidance and brings a diverse set of skills to bear in promoting philanthropy in our community. The Board elected Dave Miller in March and Kate Gilliland Connell and Regina Walker in May.

Kate Gilliland Connell

Kate Gilliland Connell has been Investment Manager of Gilliland Investments since the founding of the firm in 1999. Kate has been very active in the community, having served on the boards of Planned Parenthood of the Greater Memphis Region (including as a past board chair), the Brooks Museum, and the Financial Planning Association of Memphis. She has been a fund advisor at the Community Foundation since 1994 and serves on the board of the Gilliland Family Fund, Inc., a supporting organization of the Community Foundation. Kate holds a bachelor’s degree from Rhodes College, an MBA from the University of Memphis and the Certified Financial Planner designation.

Dave Miller

David W. Miller leads the Consumer Line of Business for First Tennessee, part of First Horizon National Corporation, headquartered in Memphis. As head of the consumer banking franchise, he drives over $450 million in annual revenues by setting and executing strategy for the bank’s network of 170-plus financial centers, private client and wealth management segments, digital channels, and consumer product management. Dave is a member of the company’s Executive Management Committee and other key leadership groups including ALCO, Credit Risk Management, Operational Risk, and Pension and Retirement Investment committees.

Over his 21-year career at First Tennessee, Dave has filled a range of leadership positions including various functions in consumer marketing. Prior to his current role, he headed corporate strategy and investor relations, receiving several national awards from "IR Magazine" and "Institutional Investor," including Best Investor Relations Officer and Best Overall IR.

An active member of the Memphis community, Dave is Treasurer of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis and also serves on the boards of the United Way, Better Business Bureau, Families Matter, and the First Tennessee Foundation. He is native of Buffalo, N.Y., and holds a degree in physical sciences from Harvard University.

Regina Walker

Regina Walker is the founder and principal of R D Walker & Associates, LLC, a consulting firm which draws upon her skills as a community convener, facilitator, organizer, planner, systems designer and implementer, public speaker, fundraiser, and relationship builder. Prior to that,Reginaserved for 32 years as Senior Vice-President of Community Engagement and Alignment for United Way of the Mid-South. In that role, she became one of the leading authorities and advocates in our community for education, the arts, financial stability and growth, economic development, neighborhood re-birth, diversity and inclusion. Regina has served on the boards of the Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis (including as a past board chair), Leadership Memphis (including as a past board chair), and Hattiloo Theatre, among many, many others. She is a graduate of Virginia State University.